Connie Sue Cherry-Mathews, a beloved Nana, Grandma, mom, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2024, in her home in Sacramento, CA., with her children and grandchildren present.  She was born February 7, 1942, in Wilmington, OH., and moved to Sacramento with her family around age 10.

She is survived by her son Michael and her daughter Michele; her grandchildren: Nicci and Mikie (aka Prince Charming); her great-grandchildren: Nicholas, Adriana, Alexis, and Zoey; her sisters: Arteemas and Nancy; her nieces and nephews: Russell and Senta, Conrad (aka Bz), Julian, and Kyndra; and several great nieces and nephews. Connie loved teaching the family how to cook her favorite recipes and showing off her latest gardening endeavors during family visits.  She especially enjoyed baking with her grand and great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her parents Beotis and Willa Mae Cherry and daughter Marie Antoinnette.

Steve Harvey was her man!  Everyone knew not to disturb her during his show.  She was an avid gardener, making lots of visits to Emigh Hardware for the necessities to care for her yard, plants, and trees.  She loved her yard, garden, and fruit trees.  You had to be a very “special breed” of gardener to care for her treasures.  Connie was a quintessential foodie.  She loved Asian, Creole, and Southern cuisine the most.  You could always find her watching any number of cooking shows to hone her skills.

A proud member of the Catholic Church, Connie was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes in Del Paso Heights.  She served her community for over 60 years, providing food, gifts, and financial support to needy families.  In recent years, Connie became a member of Divine Mercy in the Natomas community. 

Connie was also a member of a Black Catholic organization, Knights of the Peter Claver, Saint Anne Court, #175, under the title of Lady Connie Mathews.  On April 5, 2009, the organization honored Lady Mathews with the “Humanitarian of the Year” award for decades of dedicated community service.  On January 31, 2023, The National Court, Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary presented Lady Mathews with a 35-year meritorious service award.

She graduated from Sacramento City College with her Cosmetology license and worked as a beautician, then transitioned into the banking field, and finally became a civil servant with the State of California for 28 years until her retirement.

Lady Mathews certainly made the most of the “dash“ between birth and death.

Date/Time of service:  Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 3 p.m.

Locations: North Sacramento Funeral Home, 725 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95815

Live-stream starting at 3 pm:

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